Buffing wheel



E. W. HALL..

BUFFING WHEEL March 17, 1936.

' led July-11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lnveno. EUshG W. HGH

El w; HALL 2,034,576

'BUFFING WHEEL Filed July 11, 1935 2 'sheets-sheet 2 ln'venfor. ElishclW-l-'lull by/WMLQM A TTys.

atented ar. i?, 136

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in buffing wheels or buiilng disks and the method of manufacturing the same, and the principal. object of the invention is to provide a buiiing disk or wheel of novel construction which can be readily and economically manufactured, which will be of greater rigidity in respect to lateral iiexion than buinng disks of usual constructions, and which wiil be free of all metal parts likely to be projected from a highly rotating buiiing wheel and therefore dangerous to the operator.

More specifically the invention relates to improvements in bufiing wheels and the method of making buiiing wheels comprising two juxtaposed sets oi' radial annular layers ofbuiiing material of equal width, a line of stitching having widely spaced stitches uniting the inner circular edges of the layers of each set and also joining together the inner edges of both sets and gathering the same about a circle of predetermined relatively smaller circumference than the length of said stitched edges, with anchoring disks of iibrous material of relatively smaller diameter than the diameter of the periphery of said sets and -concentric therewith engaging the outer faces of the assembled sets, with means for permanently securing the anchoring disks to the outer faces of the assembled sets of bufng material and preferably also to the hub.

1t will be understood that the term bufling wheel is used herein as descriptive of a buiing wheel made of two juxtaposed sets of radial annular layers of buiing material and that any desirable number of such buing wheels may be assembled upon a shaft or arbor to produce a buier or buiing wheel of any desired width.

The'preferred method of producing a buiiing wheel embodying the present invention comprises, first, producing two like bands each having a periphery equal to that of the desired buirlng wheel and formed of a series of superimposed layers of equal width, then assembling the two bands by lines of overedge or jump stitching having widely spaced stitches, passing through the superimposed edges of both layers,` and uniting them in edge to edge relation, then drawing in the stitches intermediate ci' the adjacent edges of the superimposed layers to gather the inner edges about a circle of such predetermined smaller circumference than the length of the stitched edges as to cause the sets of layers to lie side by side in radial relation to the axis of the circle about which they are gathered. This desirably is accomplished by placing the bands in edge to edge relation upon cylindrical forms which are separated apart a distance slightly greater than the combined thickness of the two sets of layers,

with the line of stitching intermediate of the edges of the layers over the spaces between the two cylindrical forms, passing a iiexible gathering member, such as a piano Wire, around the line of stitching, anddrawing it in suiiciently to bring the stitched edges to a circle of predetermined diameter, which will cause the layers of bufling material to extend substantially radially with respect to the axis of said circle, then suitablysecuring the assembled layers together, as by. a line or lines of stitching preferably concentric with the line of overedge stitching and suitably spaced therefrom, thereafter withdrawing the gathering member and removing the assembled disks from the forms.

The assembled superimposed layers may then be mounted upon a hub of suitable material in any desired manner, for example, a hub of fibrous, preferably laminatedimaterial, of suitable thick'- ness, may 'be placed within the circle defined by the overedge stitching, and anchoring disks of relatively smaller diameter than the diameter of the bumng wheel secured both to the hub land to the superimposed layers by rows of stitching, lor a hub comprising a suitable plastic material containing an adhesive may be moulded within the hub in-such manner that some`of the adhesive composition will be forced into the interstices between the fibres forming the inner edge of the buing material and into the spaces between the plaits of the material, thereby rigidly securing the bufiing material to the hub and superimposed layers by. adhesive or by stitching.

In order to make a thinner bufiing wheel andto avoid the additional thickness of the material which is produced by the gathering in of the layers, as described, the central portion of the disks may be cut or died out between the line of overedge stitching and the anchoring stitching which passes through the superimposed layers, the anchoring disk applied to one side of the superimposed layers and secured thereto by a suitable adhesive, and the hub placed within the circular opening and secured to the anchoring disk and to the inner periphery of the buiiing material and to a complementary anchoring disk by a strong adhesive, such as glue.

Desirably protective disks of fibrous material,

preferably heavy duck, of the same diameter as the anchoring disks, are then secured to the outer faces of the anchoring disks by a strong adhesive, such as a strong glue of such consistency that it will impregnate the anchoring disks and also the .exposed portions of the lines of stitching, and which will also partially impregnate the adjacent faces of the protective disks, thereby securing the protective and anchoring disks together and also securing the hub to the fabric' layers.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which also illustrate the manner in which the bulng wheel is constructed and assembled.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a bufnng wheel embodying the invention, portions of the protective and anchoring disks being broken away to show the various lines of stitching;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diametrical vertical sectional view of the buiiing wheel illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single endless band of bung cloth which preferably is cut on ythe bias;

Fig. 4 illustrates two sets of bands each made of a plurality of concentric layers concentrically superimposed and secured together by overedge stitching;

Fig. 5 is a detail fplan view of a short section of the two sets of superimposed layers in fiat position, with the adjacent edges of the layers in juxtaposed relation, and showing the stitching uniting the sets of superimposed layers,

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the re` spective sets of layers of equal width are gathered up by a gathering member, such as a piano wire, engaging the line of stitching intermediate of the sets of layers and drawing the same upon a. suitable hub and showing the layers approaching a position in radial relation to the center of the hub or a circle-of predetermined diameter which defines the inner edges of the layers of bufng material;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, partially broken away, of a buing wheel having a hub formed of plastic material which when set provides a rigid construction;

Fig. 8 illustrates-a bumng wheel construction in which the inner edge portion of the gathered layers of material are cut away concentrically with the line of overedge stitching and suitably secured together and to the hub;

Fig. 9 is a Viewl similar to Fig. 6 illustrating more completely the xnanner in which-the bands are gathered together upon a suitable mandrel;

Iig. 10 is a diametrical sectional view of the annular disks'of bufflng material united at the inner edge by overedge stitching and also united by a. line of stitching remote therefrom extending through an' anchoring disk, and showing in dotted lines the position of a circular line through which the superimposed layers are cut for the pu'rpose of removing the inner overedg stitched material;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the application of an adhesive to the inner edges of the superimposed layer and to an overlying protecting sheet; and,

Fig. l2 is a similar view showing a completed thin bufling wheel.

I am aware that bufilng wheels have heretofore been produced by gathering in centrally of their width cylindrical or endless bands of bumng material, as isillustrated in the patent to Eno, No. 249,914, granted November 22, 1881, which comprises a bufiing wheel -having a filling of warp, wick, or other filamentous material, enclosed in a cylindrical band of textile material having a shirring string gathering the band centrally of its width to produce a bufllng wheel in which the layers of .bumng material extend substantially radially with respect to the axis ofthe wheel.

I am also aware that builing wheels having al rigid hub with a series of strips of textile fabric CII about the hub by a ligature to cause the layers of bufiing material to extend radially from the hub, the notches being for the purpose of preventing undue increase in thickness of the body or to cause a puckering at the hub when the ligature is drawn taut.

I am also aware of the construction of thev buiiing wheel in patent to Levett No. 1,298,522 granted March 25,1919, and the reissue thereof No. 15,226 November 15, 1921, in which a spirally wound body of material is gathered centrally by a ligature about a central hub, with the layers doubled widthwise of the strip and gathered around the hub in such manner as to extend outwardly from the hub, with certain or all of the layers provided with intermediate strips each doubled widthwise and extending along its median line.

In all of these constructions the folding of the series of spirally wound layers about the ligature causes, first, a considerable thickening ofl the layers at the hub of the wheel, and, second, produces a convex edge for each series of layers thus wound upon the hub, for the reason that vthe layers which wrap around the ligatures are progressively shortened an amount corresponding to the thickness of the progressively enclosed layers.

It is understood that in commercial constructions of this character ligatures or members for drawing in the central portion of the superimposed webs are of wire which are permitted to remain in the finished bufilng wheel and not infrequently such wires break and are projected outwardly from the builing wheel with great force,

thereby endangering the operator. In other types of bufiing wheels the inner circular edges of radially disposed disks of equal width are secured together by circular metalbindingrings passing around the inner edges of the cloth and having laterally extending teeth embedded in the disks, the edges of which they enclose, as shown in the patent to Meyers et al. No. 1,922,108 granted August 15, 1933. 'I'he teeth and even the metal binding rings themselves in such constructions are likely to break and fly out by reason of centrifugal force.

The present invention is designed to avoid all the imperfections of buiiing Wheels of the character above ,referred to and to provide a buillng disk having no metal parts and one which com-- prises a central portion of greater rigidity and in which the several layers of buiilng material are more firmly anchored than in disks which have heretofore been produced.

In the production of the present invention strip I of buffing material, preferably cut on the bias, is formed into anv annular band with the edges 2 and 3 thereof overlapped, and preferably spaanse.

stitched together at an angle to the axis of the strip. Any desired number of such endless strips are then concentrically superimposed to produce a set or band A second band or set 5 of concentric endless strips is similarly produced. The bands are then secured together by a line of overedge or jump stitching.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the outer-band 4 and the inner band 5, each comprising a multiplicity of strips, are secured together by a line of overedge stitching 6 in which the stitches I are widely spaced apart. This line of stitching may be made upon an overedge sewing machineor by a jumpstitch sewing machine, so that when the sets B and 5 are arranged flat-wise, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the stitches cross the adjacent vedges of the respective sets of layers. The layersl and 5 in extended form are then drawn down upon a hub 8, preferably by means of a drawing member such as'a long strip of piano wire 9 encircling the hub and engaging the line of stitches intermediate of the edges of the respective sets of layers. When the gathering member 9 is drawn down as tightly upon the periphery of the hub 8 as possible, v.the

sets 4 and 5 of bufling material will assume a substantially radial position with relation to the axis of the hub. I

Anchoring disks of brous material I0 andl II of larger diameterthan that of the hub and of considerably smaller diameter than the periphery 'of the bufng wheel are then placed upon opposite sides of the hub and the assembled layers of buiiing material and all are secured together by lines of through and through stitching I2 which desirably are concentrically or spirally arranged with respect to the axis of the hub. Another line or lines oi' stitching I3 desirably pass through the anchoring disks and the central hub, thus rmly securingy the anchoring disks to the hub.

In order further to secure the hub and the assembled layers of bufiing material permanently in position and also to lprotect the threads and to lock them in place, protective disks I4 and I5, peferably corresponding in diameter to the anchoring disks, are adhesively secured to the anchoring disks by a strong gluel I6 made of such consistency that it will impregnate the portion off the adjacent surfaces of the anchoring disks and the protective -disks and will also impregnate the exposed portions of the stitches therebetween. The adhesive is particularly eective in preventing displacement or breakage of the through and through stitching, and also of the stitching which connects the inner edges o1' the radially disposed layers of bufflng material.

The hub of the bufiing disk may be of any suitable material, such as bre board, or may be formed of plastic material. As illustrated in'Fig.

'l a hub Il oi' suitable plastic material containing an adhesive is moulded under pressure within the central circle which deflnes the inner edges of the layers of bufilng material while the hub is in a plastic state, so that some of the plastic material is forced into the interstices of the 1n' ner edge portion of the fabric and into the spaces between adjacent layers, particularly into the spaces between the plaits of such layers, thereby rmly securing the inner edges of the disks of buffng material to the hub. Protective layers I8 and I9 of heavy canvas of suitable diameter are then secured to the outer faces of the disks by an adhesive which serves not only to anchor the protective disks to the outer layers of the buling wheel, but also to impregnate the stitching from plastic adhesive material within said circle..

In the construction of bumng disks or wheels in the manner above described, the thickness of the gathered material is necessarily increased as the center is approached. In Figs. 8 to 12 a modification of the invention is illustrated which permits the production of bumng disks .having a thinner central portion so that a greater number can be assembled upon an arbor. In the production of this thinner bliillng disk or wheel strips of builing material are formed in annular bands in the manner above described and the bands secured together by overedge or jump stitching. The outer band 4 and inner band 5 are secured together by widely spaced overedge stitches 1, then placed upon al suitable hub or mandrel 8 and drawn downupon the hub by a drawing member such as a strip of piano wire 9. An anchoring disk I0 is then placed adjacent the outer layer of one of the bands 4 or 5 and the assembled disks removed from the mandrel. 'I'he superimposed sets of layers 4 and 5 and the anchoring member I0 are then iirmly securedl together by a preferably circular line of stitching After the layers are thus secured together the central portion is cut out by a circular die along the line 22 shown in dotted lines in Fig. l0, thereby providing a` large hub opening 23 as shown in Fig. 11. A protective disk 26 is then secured by a suitable' adhesive, preferably a strong glue, to the anchoring disk I0 and the inner edges of the superimposed layers impregnated with glue which may be applied in 'any manner as by a suitable spraying. device 25, the glue being also spread over the inner face of the protective disk 24. 'I'he hub 26 of suitable material, of a thickness equal to the thickness of the superimposed layers, is then tted within the hub opening 23 and an anchoring disk 21 glued to the hub and to the face of the uppermost superimposed layer. A protective disk 28 is similarly glued to the anchoring disk and finally a central cylindrical opening 29, adapted to fit the arbor ofv the machine, is cut through the hub and the anchoring and protective disks, as -illustrated in Fig. 12. By reason of this construction -the thicker portion of the gathered layers is removed and a thinner bumng disk or wheel is produced.

By reason of the constructions above described each oi' the radially arranged layers is of the same width when` thus assembled, presenting av cylindrical periphery which needs little or no trim, therebysaving considerable expense in the production of the buiiing wheel. The -buiiing or distort the metal bands o f bufng wheels of the character heretofore described. The buflng wheel contains no .netal parts, the breakage of which is likely to produce to the operator. The periphery of the bufllng wheel is of substantial uniformity throughout its life` and it can be worn down safely to the periphery of the anchoring and protective disks without danger of breakage of the anchoring stitches or the displacement of any of the layers, such as frequently occur in buiing disks in which the layers are wound in flat spirals and in which the end of the outermost spiral frequently becomes detached and by reason of centrifugal force of the rapid rotation progressively unwinds the spiral, thus endangering the operator.

It will be understood that in the present invention bands of bufiing material may be at wound from a long strip of material of suitable width as the anchorages above described will so rmly unite the layers that danger of unwindng is entirely avoided. The bands preferably, however, are constructed of strips of uniform width, the ends of which are secured together before `assembling in the concentric relation above described. v

It will be understood that the particular em bodiments of the invention and the method of producing the same herein described are of an illustrative character and not restrictive, and that various changes in form, lconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made within-the spirit .andscope of the claims. It will also be understood that the sets of layers of bufling material may be gathered in the manner above described between temporary removable forms and the permanent hub thereafter inserted instead of gathering the sets directly upon thepermanent hub. Ineachcase,.however,the'gathering-member, l metallic', is removed before the wheelis completed.

.thus describedlihe f-inventionwhat is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A bung wheel comprising two juxtaposed sets of radial .annular -layersnf .honing -zmaterial of equal width, Va line i of stitchnghaving .widely spaced stitches unitingy the-innerv `circular edges of the layers preach-set andalso joining together the inner edgesof .both sets said `stitches and 'inner edges of said layers being gathered about 1 spaced stitches uniting the inner circular edges of the layers of each set and also joining together the inner edges of both sets said stitches and inner edges of said layers being gathered about a circle of predetermined relatively smaller circumference than the length of said stitched edges, a hub of rigid material having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the assembled layers tting within .the gathered inner edges of said layers of bulng material, anchoring disks of brous material of greater diameter than said hub engaging the outer faces of the assembled annular layers of bufng material, rows of stitching extending respectively through and through said anchoring disks and the layersl of bufling material therebetween and through said disks and said hub, and protective disks of iibrous material secured to said huband anchoring disks and the portions of the stitching therebetween by a strong impregnating adhesive.

3;' A bumng wheel comprising two juxtaposed sets of radial annular layers of buitmgl material of equal width,'a line of stitching having widely spaced stitches uniting the inner .circular edges of the layers of each set and also joining together the inner edges of both sets said stitches. and

inner edges of said layers being gathered about -a circle of predeterminedl relatively smaller cir- 4heavy duck cloth secured to said hub and anchoring disks and theportions ofthe stitching therebetween by' astrong impregnating adhe sive.

4. Axbuiing wheel `comprising ftwo juxtaposed sets of radial atTwound-spirals of buffing material of equal Width, -a line of stitching having i widely spaced stitches uniting the inner circular Vedges of the layers `of each set and also joining together the inner edges of both sets-said'stitches and inner edges i of ,said layers being gathered about a circle-of predetermined relatively smaller edges, a hub of brous material having a thickness corresponding to the thickness ofthe assembled layers tting within-the gathered inner eedgesof said'layers ofbu'iiing material, anchor- 'ing disks of fibrous material of greater diameter thansaid hub engaging'the outerjaces of the assembled annular VYlayers of buing material, and a plurality of rows of stitching extending through and through saiddisks and the layers of buihng material therebetween and through said disks and said hub, and protective disks of fibrous material lsecured to said hub and anchoring disks and the portion of stitching therebetween by a strong impregnating adhesive.

5. A buing wheel comprising two juxtaposed sets of radial annular layers of bufiing material of equal width, a line of stitching having widely spaced stitches uniting the inner circular edges of the layers of each set and also joining together the inner edges of both sets said stitches and inner edges of said layers being gathered about a circle of predetermined relativelysmaller oircumference than the length of said stitched edges, a hub ,ofy plastic material containing an adhesive moulded into said circle and adhesively engaging at its periphery the fibres of the inner edges of said layers of builng material, stitching extending through and through the layers of buiing material securing them together, and protective disks of heavy cloth secured to said hub and to the outer layers of said bufiing material and the portions of the stitching therebetween by a strong impregnating adhesive.

:circumference than the length of said stitched 6. A bufdng wheel comprising a plurality of annular layers of bufling material'gathered to form an inner circle of predetermined diameter and secured together by through and through stitching, a hub of' plastic material containing an adhesive moulded in said circle and acting when setto provide a central hub adhesively united to the adjacent edges of saidlayers, and protective disks of heavy cloth secured to said hub and the outer layer of bufling material and the portions of the stitching therebetween by a strong impregnating adhesive. n

7. A builing'wheel comprising a plurality of layers of buiiing material having a central opening and gathered toward said central opening to form an inner circle of predetermined diameter, a line of-through and through stitchingA bands of equal width having superimposed layers of iiexible buiiing material, securing one of the edges of the layers of each set together and to the other set by a uniting line of stitching having widely spaced stitches, drawing inthe line of stitching intermediate of said sets to a circle of predetermined relatively smaller diam-V eter than that of the unstitched edges, thereby gathering the material substantially uniformly along the periphery of said smaller circle and bringing the layers of buiiing material into radial relation to the axis of said circleand xvedly securing both sets and the layers thereof together by non-metallic securing means.

9. The method of making buing wheels which comprises separately and concentrically winding each of two long strips of exible bumng material of equal width and of substantially equal length to produce two sets of endless bands of superimposed layers, uniting the 'edges of each set together and to the other set by a line of overedge stitching having widely spaced stitches,

' drawing in the line of stitching intermediate of said sets to a circle of predetermined relatively smaller diameter than that of the unstitched edges, thereby gathering the material along the periphery of said smaller circle and bringing the buiiing material into radial relation to the axis of said circle, and securing all the layers of both lsets of bands together by lines of through and widely spaced stitches, placing the sets of bands thus united upon a cylindrical hub of relatively smaller circumference than the circumference of the united edges of said sets, encircling the line of stitching between the sets of bands by a strong fiexible drawing member, drawing said member tightly upon said hub to gather the stitched edges uniformly upon said hub 'and Ito cause -the layers of superimposed material ,to

extend radially 4from said hub, securing all the radially assembled layers together by through and through, stitching and removing the drawing member.

11. The method of making' buiing wheels which comprises producing two sets of continuous bands having superimposed layers of buiing 'cloth of equal widths, securing one ofthe-edges of the superimposed layers togethervand to the otherset by a line of overedge stitching having widely spaced stitches, placing the sets of bands thus united upon a cylindrical hub of relatively smaller circumference than the circumference of the united edges of said sets, encircling the line of stitching between the sets of bands by a streng nexible drawing member, drawing said member tightly upon said hub to gather 'the stitched edges uniformly upon said 'hub and to cause the layers of superimposed material to extend radially from said hub, placing upon opposite faces of said hub anchoring disks of larger diameter than said hub and of smaller diameter than the builing wheel, andsecuring said disks to said hub and to the'layers of bothsets of builng material by lines of through and through stitching, and securing protecting disks to said anchoring disks by an adhesive -lmp'regnating the adjacent surfaces of the anchoring and-protecting disks and the portions of the liney of stitching therebetween.

12. The method of making bufling wheels which comprises producing two sets of continuous bands of equal width having superimposed layers of buiiing material, securing one of the edges of the'layers of each set together and to the other set by a uniting line of stitching having widely spaced stitches, drawing in the line of vstitching intermediate of, said sets to a circle of predetermined relatively llsmaller diameter than that of the unstitched edges, thereby gathering the material substantially uniformly along the periphery of said smaller circle and bringing the layers of bufilng material into radial relation to the axis of said circle, moulding into said circle a mass of plastic material containing an adhesive to produce a hub having a thickness equal to that of the layers of bumng material, uniting the layers of bufilng material by through and through stitching, and securing protective disks, of suitably smaller diameter than the diameter of the buing layers, to the outer layers of buiiing material and to the hub by an adhesive impregnatingthe adjacent surfaces of the protective disks and outer layers and the portions of the stitches therebetween.

13. The method of making bufng wheels which comprises superimposing av pluralityof layers of hurling-material having like edges gathered to produce a central circle of predetermined diameter, securing said layers together by through and through stitching, moulding within said circle a mass of plastic composition containing an adhesive operable when the plastic material is. set to provide a rigid hub and to unite the inner edges of the' layers firmly thereto, securing protective disks of-suitablediameter, less than the diameter of the buiiing disks, to said hub and portions of the stitches therebetween.

14. The method of `making bufiing wheels whichcomprises superimposing a plurality of layers of builing material having like edges gathered to produce a central circle of predetermined vsubstantially uniformly along the periphery of said smaller circle and bringing the layers of buiiing material into radial relation to the axis of the circle, securing the superimposed layers to an anchoring disk by a line or lines of through and through stitching, cutting the superimposd layers and the anchoring disk upon a circular line intermediate oi' the overedge stitching and the line of anchoring stitching, securing a pro- `tective disk by a suitable adhesive to the anchoring disk, applying a suitable adhesive to the inner edges of the superimposed layers and to the anchoring disk, fitting a hub of suitable material in the hub opening thus formed and adhesively securing a complementary anchoring disk and a complementary protective disk to the opposite face of the superimposed layers.

15. The method of making bufllng wheels which comprises superimposing a plurality of layers of buiing material having like edges gathered to produce a central circle of predetermined diameter, securing one of the edges of the layers of drawing in the line of stitching intermediate of said sets to a circle of predetermined relatively smaller diameter than that of the unstitched edges, thereby gathering the material substantially uniformly along the periphery of said smaller circle and bringing the layers of bufflng material into radial relation tothe axis of the circle, securing the superimposed layers to an anchoring disk by a line or lines of through and through stitching, cutting the superimposed layers and the anchoring disk upon a circular line intermediate of the-overedge stitching and the line of anchoring stitching, securing a pro'- tective disk by a suitable adhesive to the anchoring disk, applying a suitable adhesive to the inner edges of the superimposed layers and to the anchoring disk, fitting an integral hub o! suitable material in the hub opening thus formed and adhesively securing a complementary anchoring disk and a complementary protective disk to the opposite face of the superimposed layers, and finally cutting an arbor opening centrally through the hub and the-anchoring and protective disks.

' ELISHA WINTHIROP HALL. 

